Russia1986

Fyodor Dostoyevsky:
[firmly] Nothing is always true. A few things are always untrue.

Himself - Host:
Mr. Dostoyevsky, when you were younger you were led out into a public square in order to be shot as a revolutionary. In the last moment there was a reprieve and you were sentenced to four years in Siberia and eight further years in the army. Don't you sometimes resent those 12 wasted years of your life?

Fyodor Dostoyevsky:
[passionately] No! They gave me everything. My literature, my characters, my understanding, my compassion. Why should I resent a superficial injustice? So, I am grateful, even thankful to the fools, the idiots who sentenced me to be shot.

Himself - Host:
[conciliatory] Well, I must say... your speech at the Pushkin memorial was quite something. It was. But I think in light of his opinions about Pushkin, I don't think our friend Tolstoy would even have accepted the invitation to speak there.